Direct cranking starter device

Abstract

A direct cranking starter device for an internal combustion engine has a rotatable driving member to be connected to a starting motor and an overrunning clutch for engaging the driving member to the crankshaft of the engine with a movable shock absorbing member interposed between the driving member and overrunning clutch to prevent initial starting torque intermittent shock loads generated upon initial activation of the starting motor from being transmitted through the driving member to the overrunning clutch.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A starter drive device to interconnect a starting motor and the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine for starting the internal combustion engine, said starter drive device comprising: driving means to be operating connected to the starting motor and to be rotatably driven by the starting motor;   an overrunning clutch mounted coaxial with said driving means, said overrunning clutch comprising: a cam body connected to said crankshaft of the engine for rotation therewith;   a bearing race mounted coaxial with said cam body, said bearing race having one end portion and an opposite end portion, said one end portion mounted to said crankshaft intermediate said cam body and said crankshaft; and   means for bearing disposed between said cam body and said first portion of the bearing race, said bearing means interconnecting said cam body and said first portion of the bearing race to selectively engage said cam body to said bearing race when said internal combustion engine is operated below a predetermined speed;     means interconnecting said driving means and said overrunning clutch interposed said driving means and said overrunning clutch for communicating the rotatable movement of said driving means to said crankshaft of the engine, said interconnecting means further comprising: a ring member coaxially disposed with said crankshaft of the engine, said ring member interconnecting said driving means and said opposite end portion of the bearing race, said ring member being axially and rotatably movable with respect to said crankshaft; and   resilient means disposed adjacent to said ring member and coaxial with said crankshaft such that as said ring member moves axially upon rotation of said driving means said ring member abuts said resilient means whereby said resilient means absorbs the starting torque shock loads and subsequent rebound action of the crankshaft generated by the rotation of the crankshaft of the engine by the driving means.     
     
     
       2. The starter device of claim 1, wherein: (a) said driving means comprises: a cylindrical body coaxially disposed with the engine crankshaft; and,   means for connecting said cylindrical body to the starting motor;     (b) said overrunning clutch is disposed within said cylindrical body of said driving means and is coaxially disposed with the engine crankshaft and said cylindrical body; and,   (c) said ring member is disposed within said cylindrical body of said driving means between said overrunning clutch and said cylindrical body.   
     
     
       3. The starter drive device according to claim 1 further comprising: means for operatively connecting said cam body to said crankshaft; and   means for operatively connecting said interconnecting means to said driving means and said bearing race.   
     
     
       4. The starter drive device of claim 1, wherein said ring member is interconnected to said driving means by helical splines and said ring member is interconnected to said bearing race by helical splines twisted oppositely of those interconnecting said driving means and ring member. 
     
     
       5. The starter drive of claim 4, wherein said helical splines interconnecting said ring member and driving means are twisted in a direction counter to the rotational direction of said driving means upon activation of the starting motor for starting the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
       6. The starter drive device of claim 1, wherein said resilient means comprises an annular body of resilient material attached to said driving means for rotation therewith. 
     
     
       7. The starter drive device of claim 4, wherein said resilient means further comprises a thrust washer disposed between said annular body and said ring member. 
     
     
       8. The starter device of claim 7 wherein said resilient means further comprises a retaining ring member attached to said driving means and disposed in abutting relationship to said annular body on the opposite side thereof from said thrust washer for holding said annular body in position.